Field piece or field gun



I v. HAMMAR 2,239,559

FIELD PIECE on FIELD GUN April 22, 1

Filed'Dec. 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l v. HAMMAR 2,239,559

FIELD PIECE OR FIELD GUN Filed Dec. 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/77/6/72%If EVVMM? April 1941- v. HAMMAR 2,239,559

FIELD PIECE 0R FIELD GUN Filed Dec. 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gin/817%)April 22, 1941. v. HAMMAR 2,239,559

FIELD PIECE 0R FIELD GUN Filed Dec. 5 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 f ammyr' Ilm/cnfan April 1941 v. HAMMAR 2,239,559

FIELD PIECE OR FIELD GUN Filed'Dec. 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedApr. 22, 1941 FIELD FEECE GR 1* ELD GUN Victor Hamrnar, Borers, Sweden,assignor to Alrtiebolaget Borers, Bofors, Sweden Application 16 Claims.

The invention pertains to improvements in and relating particularly toheavy field pieces or field guns having split trails, and the inventionhas for its object to facilitate operations required to convert thepiece from a position for transport to a position for shooting and viceversa.

The invention includes a limber made in two detachable pieces, one ofwhich is mounted on one of the gun carriage trails and the other on theother trail, the construction preferably being a such that the wheelscan be swung out in a lateral direction to serve as carrier wheels forthe trails of the gun carriage when these are December 5, 1938, SerialNo. 244,112 In Sweden March 3, 1938 spread apart and brought together.As this construction avoids the necessity of handling or lifting thetrails of the gun carriage the movements can be carried out quickly andeasily by one or two operators.

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of the invention applied toa heavy field piece. As the piece may be of any type having trails whichcan be spaced apart, only the limber and those parts of the carriagetrails with which the invention is concerned have been shown in thedrawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the limber and the rear ends of the carriagetrails in the driving or transport position. Figs. 2 and 3 are a planView and a rear View of the same parts in the same position. Fig. 4 is aplan view of the parts in the position they take up immediately beforethe trails of the carriage are disconnected and swung out. Fig. 5 is arear view of the part in the same position. Fig. 6 is a rear view of thelimber showing the right limber wheel as carrier wheel for the righttrail of the carriage. Fig.7 is a side view of the rear part of the lefttrail of the carriage in the shooting position with the left half of thelimbermounted thereon, and Figs. 8 and- 9 are a plan view and a rearview of the last mentioned trail of the carriage also with the limberin'the shooting position.

In the drawings the reference numerals l and la denote the split trailsof the carriage, to the rear end of which are afiixed spade boxes 2 and2a having extensions 3 and to extending rearwardly and being providedwith spade poles A l, three for each trail. The spade poles are in thetransport position held in a raised position by a suitable lockingmechanism,

According to the invention the limber is made in two detachable parts orhalves, and in the embodiment shown one half is mounted on one of thespade box extensions -3 and 3a, and the other on the other extension.The limber comprises thewheels 5 and 5a, which by means of springoperated link systems 6 and to are steerably mounted on fork-shapedwheel axles I, la. The steering gear comprises outer bell cranks 8 andBa connected with the steering pins 5 and 5 of the corresponding wheelsand by means of double tie rods 9 and to with inner bell cranks l9 and18a. These latter crank are pivotally mounted in each of the spade boxextensions 3 and 3a, the bearings being in different horizontal planes,so that in the closed position of the trails the bearings overlie eachother and the turning axes coincide. To each of the inner bell cranks Itand We is connected a pole ll, Ha, so as to be swingable in a verticaldirection. In the transport position, Figs. 1, '2 and 3, the poles arefolded together one over the other and held together by means of a screwbolt ll. 1

To each of the wheel axles l and la is rigidly connected a fork-shapedholder l2, Ilia carrying a cylindrical spring housing l3, 53a containinga balancing spring (not shown), said springs by means of pull rods i iand I ta, Figs. 5 and 6, being connected to the corresponding trails(through the boxes 2 and 2a with the extensions 3 and 3a) and having alifting effect on these. The inner end of the right wheel axle la isprovided with a long conical projection l5, Fig, '6, which in the closedposition of the trails enters a corresponding seat in the inner end ofthe left wheel axle i, so that in the transport position the two axlesfunction as a single rigid axle. Each wheel axle 'l and la is furthermountedin bearing members Hi, ltd secured to the corresponding spade boxextensions 3, 3a,,so as to be swingable in a vertical plane. Thesebearing members are axially displaced relatively to each other and arefurther so disposed that in the closed position of the trails thebearing members It on the extension 3 in the form of a fork embrace thebearing members Mia on the extension 3a and their axes are coaxial,whereby also the common wheel axle composed of the compounded axles land la becomes swingable in a vertical direction. In this way theadvantage is gained that also when driving over uneven ground the fourwheels of the carriage always are in touch with the ground.

On each of the wheel axles l and la is further swingably mounted a pawlI8, liia adapted to engage with ratchet plates L9, [to afiixed to theextensions 3 and 3a of the spade boxes,

For the locking the trails together there is, in addition to the screwbolt I! on the double pole H,- Ha, provided a locking device (see Fig.4)

comprising two screws 20 and 2| having right and left handed threads anda strainer 22, the screw 20 being articulately secured to the inside ofthe left trail I, whereas the other screw 2! by means of an eye can behooked on to a hook 23 affixed to the inside of the right trail la.

In the positions of the various parts shown in Figs. 1-3 the pieceitself as well as the limber, as mentioned, are in the transportposition and for transport the double pole held together by the bolt I1is connected to a tractor.

For changing to shooting position the screw bolt I1 is unscrewed and thetwo pole halves II and Ha are swung out 90 to each side (see Figs. 4 and5). At the same time the wheels 5 and 5a are also turned by the steeringmechanism 8, 9, l and 8a, Ga, 10a in the same direction as thecorresponding part of the pole, so as to take up positions at rightangles to the trails, in which positions the wheels serve as carriagewheels for the trails when these are spread apart. The locking mechanism20-22 is disconnected and unhooked from the hook 23, and the trails arethen pulled apart by means of the pole halves I l and Ha. As soon as thecone IE on the left wheel axle I is clear of the corresponding seat inthe right wheel axle la the total weight of the trails is transferred tothe balancing springs in the cylinders l3 and l3a, and the trails aredepressed somewhat until the total load has been taken up by thesprings.

When the trails have been pulled apart into the shooting position thespades 4 are let down, so that the points thereof rest against theground, and they are then locked in this posi tion. The means forletting the spades down may be any conventional construction and formsno part of the present invention. For instance such means may consist ofpawl and ratchet members, similar to those shown in Fig. 3. When the gunis fired the spade boxes are pressed down against the ground by thefiring pressure and the'lower part of the spade poles enter the ground,as shown by the unbroken lines in Figs. '7 and 9, the wheel axles takeup the inclined position shown in Fig. 9 and the pawls l8 and i811 onthe Wheel axles engage with the teeth of the corresponding ratchetplates 19 and I911. In this way the balancing springs are prevented fromraising the spade boxes (the rear ends of the trails) after the firingpressure has ceased.

If, when the piece is set up on loose ground, it is necessary to pushthe spade poles 4 deeper into the ground the following procedure isemployed. The pawls l8 and 18a are released, when the spade boxes arelifted up from the ground by the balancing springs. The spade poles,however, are released and are not pulled up, and they are then againlocked to the uplifted spade boxes. When then a shot is fired the spadeboxes return to the ground position and the spade poles are presseddeeper into the ground, as shown with dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 9. Thepawls l8 and |8a again engage with the teeth of the ratchet plates 19and l9a.

In order to bring the piece again into the transport position the spadepoles are released and then pulled up and locked in the upliftedpositions. The pawls l8 and I811 are then released, when the trails areraised from the ground by the balancing springs as above described, sothat they rest on the carrier wheels and 5a. The trails are broughttogether and locked together by means of the locking device 2022. Thepole halves are brought together, when the Wheels are brought into thetransport position.

The invention is obviously not limited to the construction of theseparable limber shown in the drawings, as the various details may bemodified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates of America 1. In combination, a gun carriage having split trailsand a limber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachableparts, individually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails.

2. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachableparts, individually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails,and means for swinging out the limber wheels substantially at rightangles to the related carriage trail.

3. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachableparts,individually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails, meansfor swinging out the limber wheels substantially at right angles to therelated carriage trail, and a pole on said limber, said pole comprisingtwo detachable parts, individually swingably connected to each one ofsaid limber parts and capable of being swung out substantially at rightangles to the related carriage trail.

4. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said'limber being made in two detachableparts, individually firmly secured to .each one of said carriage trails,a wheel swingably mounted on each one of said limber parts, a polecomprising two detachable parts individually swingably connected to eachone of said limber parts, and a steering device on each one of saidlatter parts in operative connection with the related wheel and polepart.

5. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachable partsindividually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails, meansfor swinging out the limber wheels substantially at right angles to therelated carriage trail, a separate shaft for each of said limber wheels,and means for interconnecting said shafts to form a single stiff shaftin the interlocked position of said trails and limber parts.

-6. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachableparts, individually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails,a wheel swingably mounted on each one of the said limber parts, a polecomprising two detachable parts individually swingably connected to eachone of said limber parts, a separate shaft for each of said limberwheels, and means for interconnecting said shafts to form a single stiffshaft in the interlocked position of said trails and limber parts.

'7. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachableparts, individually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails,a wheel swingably mounted on each one of said limber parts, a polecomprising two detachable parts individually swingably connected to eachone of said limber parts, a separate shaft for each of said limberwheels, means for interconnecting said shafts to form a single stiffshaft in the interlocked position of said trails and said limber parts,and a steering device on each one of said latter parts in operativeconnection with the related wheel and pole part.

8. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachable partsindividually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails, meansfor swinging out the limber wheels substantially at right angles to therelated carriage trail, a separate shaft for each of said limber wheels,means for interconnecting said shafts to form a single stifi shaft inthe interlocked position of said trails and limber parts, separatebearing blocks for said wheel shafts on said trails, said blocks beingin alignment with each other in said interlocked position of the trailsand limber parts, and means permitting said single stiff shaft toperform tilting movements.

9. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage, said limber being made in two detachable partsindividually firmly secured to each one of said carriage trails, meansfor swinging out the limber wheels substantially at right angles to therelated carriage trail, a separate shaft for each of said limber wheels,means for interconnecting said shafts to form a single stiff shaft inthe interlocked position of said trails and limber parts, and abalancing and lifting device in operative connection with each of saidseparate wheel shafts and the related carriage trail and effecting alifting action on said trail when moving said trails from and to eachother.

10. In combination, a gun carriage having split trails, a two-wheeledlimber for said carriage,

said limber being made in two detachable parts individually firmlysecured to each one of said carriage trails, means for swinging out thelimber wheels substantially at right angles to the related carriagerail, a separate shaft for each of said limber wheels, means forinterconnecting said shafts to form a single stiff shaft in theinterlocked position of said trails and limber parts, a balancing andlifting device in operative connection with each of said separate wheelshafts and the related carriage trail and effecting a lifting action onsaid trail when moving said trailsfro and to each other, and a lockingdevice in operative connection with each of said separate wheel shaftsand the related carriage trail, said device forming a rigid connectionbetween each of said shafts and the related trail in the fire positionof the gun carriage and thus neutralizing the lifting effect of saidbalancing device on the trail.

VICTOR HAMMAR.

